I first ate at Pakwan over three years ago while walking a dramatically different Valencia Street (pre-sidewalk upgrades), in search of a place to live in the Mission. I still remember the smells coming out of the kitchen and thinking—oh my god… I need to have that! At the time, the restaurant had wobbly tables and a low health department rating; none of which...

SWAN OYSTER DEPOT

In a city full of restaurants trying to one-up each other with cryptic menus and hipster wait staff, Swan is a breath of fresh air. This place has been around for decades and has changed very little. Family owned and operated, complete with a retail fish market and delivery in the Polk area. Swan has the best fresh shellfish anywhere in the city, and at a fair price. They open at 8 A.M. and I often go early to...

REVERIE COFFEE CAFE

Reverie Coffee Cafe became my regular feeding grounds the week I became the owner of a dog named Kaytee. This was the week I discovered the Cole Valley Dog Park, met the regulars consistent with it, and stumbled upon this personable little cafe that lived just around the corner. It then became evident that most of my fellow dog parkees, all shared a common affinity for this cafe, and seemed to spend most of their.

CHARANGA

Charanga's colorful and lively, yet very comfortable atmosphere is perfect for dinner with a group of friends or even for an intimate date. Under the umbrella of Pan-Latin cuisine they serve a variety of tapas style foods from different Latin American countries offering a broad palette of different flavors from Costa Rican Refried Beans to Caribbean Paella, Lechon Asado, and Cuban-style roast pork marinated in...

BRENDA'S SOUL FOOD

As a Southerner I'm damn proud to call soul food one of my stereotypical addictions. I'm also glad Brenda's opened the year I moved to the city, otherwise my withdrawals would be manifesting through expensive airfare and unfulfilling imitations.
I've been trying to get clean since 2007. City programs attempt to help with an endless supply of local, fresh produce...

TU LAN

Tu Lan is nestled in perhaps one of the most uncomfortable spots in SoMa, at the first stretch of 6th Street as it buds off of Market. Perhaps this is why the hole in the wall Tu Lan seems so welcoming; a quick hot meal and a bit of relatively quiet respite from the flurry and medicated chatter outside. Tu Lan sports a classic sit-in era lunch counter and a highly...